Uncoupling mechanism



Patented May 30, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 w. J. REGAN.

UNCOUPLING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 6, 192l- Patented May 30, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

M KW

names stares PENNSYLVANIA.

To all whom it may concern: H

Be it known that I, WVI LIAM J REGAN, a citizen of the United States residing at Pittsburgh, in the county, of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvanimhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in -Uncoupling: Mechanism; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, new, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable o'thers skilled in the art towhich it appertains to make and'usethe same; My invention relates l to uncoupling mechanism for operating thexlock of ar car coupler. While it is especially designed to provide uncoupling means particularly applicable to the Master Gar Builders? D- 'type coupler employing a bottom operatedlock the invention may be embodied inuncoupling mechanism applicable, to other forms of couplers as well. a ,1,

The primary object of the inventionis-to afford an easily operated uncoupling mechanism which consists of a few simple parts -compactly arranged so as to enable the device to be capable of being applied; in a space of comparatively small verticaldimension. it 3 The principal feature of the invention, generally stated, consists in movingthelock of the coupler by means of a rotatable'mem- ,ber operatively connected to the lock and slidably supported near its rear end by anactuating member that is pivotally connected at a point below the said rotatable member to a movable support adapted tofswing lengthwise of the car. A further feature of theinventionjconsists in moving the lock of a coupler to unlocked positions by means of a rotatable member operatively connected .to the lock and'cwhich slidably engages an actuating member that is'pivotally connected to the lower end-not an inverted bail whose upper endisprovided with a plurality of hooks whereby the bail may be swingingly and detachably supported by the couplercarrierironr,s v

As will hereinafter appear, thereare further features of the invention residing in particular details vofconstructionandri n special combinations of parts, f 1;; 41:;

In the drawings illustrating th'; preferred embodiment of the invention,.-y

Figure l is a View, partly in side elevation and partly in section, of an uncoupling mechanism embodying the lHVGIltiOIle-thQsCZLI' levers being of a widejrangeoflateral, swingingmove- I i. menti its a shank may g be provided, near its glefll'gQll d with ?a pivotpin' opening 5 ,for 'receiving;aitail pine (not, shown) why-which v WILLIAM J. REGAN, or PITTSB GH; r symisnm;a ssrenos m na ing-MY & TORLEY COMPANY, or PITTSBURGH; ,r nivrtsynvzxnrngfn" :conroRATIo v on UNCO-UPLING- MncI-mmsivrh I Specificationfof Letttrs'Batnt. P iehted May 30 1 922. Application filed. October 6,115 21 Seri a 1\ T o I i I I i H i coupler illustrated being "signage a Vi partly-inside elevation c d paii 1 naver iea s' et fimJ fa po tion of tl ie; onstruction; shownln Fig 1, the ear lerr r nrdev ce e ng om t d n 1 ar s git-8mg in the ,}positions .theyro'ccupy when the] couplerlockghas. performed an ex- .ftended unlocking 'r'novement.

i r s;, saaaanV ew of (a portion or the mechanisni'g'i partly "in vertical -sectionand v 'paiitlyinfrea-r .eleva'tion, portions of-the un- I iatvl llgure 5 s a sect'onal "view on the line 545', 3, portions I of, the uncoupling b ken away:

as dean p nlyiw of. mate,

F. gure meinberv designedl-to be secured to the coupler carrier; iron "device to enable the uncoupling mechan sm to be supportedetherefroml (Figure {Z is a section: on the line 7-7, Fig; I Y

' pants 1911611 hani m. "being a broken away, g i p 7 In the drawingsyl indicateis'a carjcoupler of the Master: Gar Builders D-type. "The -lowerfend;of itslock 2is movably connected ;,t;o..i a link, which; projects {downwardly through-the couplen'head and is pivoted at .its lowergend to .aswinginglift lever at which is itselfpivotally secured to. the under Side "of the coupler head. -The link?) and pivoted i leverd m y, s h n, a i m,

arrangement 1 and mod or"-- operation with [:thestanda-rd parts oit'the bottom lift devices" Y of the D- typetcoupler I v ,the' eoup1eris desdgnedto.be

the. coupler qmaygbe pivotally I connected to i the} draft rigging inr-the vusujal manner. .-}The 10 form of: coupler .carrierairon device illusthat the invention is not limited to the structural features of thecaliliin f. i301); emplo T The-swinging liftw lever- 4;; is opera toefiect an unlocking movement of the lock 2 by means of a vertically rotatahlamemher 7 which is preferably interlockingly connected to the lift; lever by a'hook and eye connedtion, the member 7 having a hooked forward end 8 which cooperates with an aperture 9 with which the lift lever is provided at its inner end. The member 7,, which is preferably formed as a simple bar, is slidably supported rearwardly oft-he coupler Lock 2 by a member 10 which, uponbeing actuated, is adapted to cause the bar 7' to perform a vertical rotation .resu'ltin inv an unlocking movement of the couplerfijock. The, actuating member 10 ispivotally supported at a point below the, rotatable bar7 on, the. lower part of an invertedbail or; U-shaped" member 11 whose upper end is provided With a i v plurality of spaced hooks 12- affording means for effecting a pivotal connection with: the carrier iron allowing said bail to. swing lengthwise of the car. In the construction shownin the drawings the carrier iron device 6 is illustrated as'having riveted thereto a'bracket member 13 provided with a transversely elongated slot 14 for detachably receiving theho0ks-12' of the swinging bail; The pivotal connection between-"the actuating member 10 and the swinging bail 11 is preferably effected by providing the lower end of said actuating member with a bounding side walls 19 of the actuating member 10 being provided above the point of pivotal connection ofsaid actuating nember to said bail with apertures 20 permitting stead of upwardly,

the introduction of the bent ends 1170f the uncoupling levers and forming journal bearings for said levers 18'. Except thfit it is preferred to extend the bent inner ends 17 of the uncoupling leversdownwardly in said levers maybe of the well known form illustrated in the I. H.

Milliken Patent No. 1,184,116, dated May The actuating member 10 is provided with a forward wall 21 adaptedto be engaged by the bent ends 17 of the uncouplingle'eers to efiecta lock actuating rotation of the member 10 "when either of the independently rotatable unoouplng levers is operated by the trainma'n to cause an unlocking movement the rear of the uncoupling levers 18, is a transversel extending lug portion 22 adapt ed to engage the rotatable bar 7 when the mechanism performs an unlocking operation, the rotation of the actuating member 10 induced by the movement of either of the uncoupling levers 18 thereby being communicated to the member 7 through the engagement therewith of the transversely extending portion 22 and the upper end of the front wall 21 of theactuating member 10.

The rotatable member 7 may be caused to erform an unlocking operation by manipuating either of the uncoupling levers 18. When either of said levers is rotated in the proper direction its bent inner end 17 presses against the forward wall 21 of the swinging actuating member 10, causing vthe latter to rotate upon the supporting bailll. This results in bringing the portions 21 and 22 of the actuating member into engagement with opposite sides of the rotatable member 7, thereby compelling the latter to executean unlocking movement and thus causing the lock 11ft lever 4; and link 3 to communiof the member 7 and its actuating means 10 the supporting bail 11 swingslengthwise of the car as may be required to permit the forward end of the rotatable member, 7 readily to conform to the movement of the lift lever 4. 3

While the several parts of the mechanism are detachably connected and may therefore be easily assembled and disassembled they are interlocked so that accidental disassociation is prevented when the device is in service.

1. In an uncoupling mechanism, the combination with a car coupler and its lock, of means for moving said lock to unlocked .posltion, said means involving a rotatable member operatively connected to saidlock and extending rearwardly therefrom, means supportingly engaging and adapted to actuate said rotatable member, and swinging means pivotally connected to said actuating means below said rotatable member.

2. In an uncouplng mechanism,'the combination with a car coupler and its lock, of

means for moving said lock to unlocked position, said means involving a vertically rotatable member operatively connected to said lock, means. supporting'lyengaging and adapted to actuate said rotatable member, and an inverted bail for pivotally supporting said actuating means. i

3. In an uncoupling mechanism, the combination with a car coupler, its lock and carrieriron, of means for moving said lock to 'cate acorresponding movement to the coupler lock 2. During the, unlocking rotation unlocked position, said means involving a rotatable member operatively connected to said lock and extending rearwardly therefrom, means supportingl'y engaging and adapted to actuate said rotatable member, and a bail swingingly supported by said carrier iron and pivotally' supporting said actuating means below said rotatable member.

4:. In an uncoupling mechanism, the combination with a car coupler, its lock and carrier iron, of means for moving said lock to unlocked position, said means involving a rotatable member operatively connected to said lock, means supportingly engaging and adapted to actuate said rotatable member, and a bail interposed between said carrier iron and said actuating means and swinginglyconnecting said actuating means to said carrier iron, said bail being provided with a plurality of hooks adapted to engage one of said members connected by said bail.

5. In an uncoupling mechanism, the combination with a car coupler, its lock and carrier iron, of means for moving said lock to unlocked position, said means involving a rotatable member operatively connected to said lock and extending rearwardly therefrom, means supportingly engaging and adapted to actuate said rotatable member, and a U-shaped member interposed between and having pivotal connection with said can rier iron and said actuating means, said U- shaped member being provided with a plu rality of spaced hooks affording means for effecting one of said pivotal connections.

6. In an uncoupling mechanism, the combination with a car coupler, its lock and carrier iron, of means for moving said lock to unlocked posltlon, said means involving a vertically rotatable member operatively connected to said lock and extending rearwardly therefrom, means suppbrtingly en gaging and adapted to actuate said rotatable member, and a swinging bail pivotally connected to said carrier iron and to said actuating means, said bail being provided at its upper end with a plurality of spaced hooks whereby it is detachably connected to said carrier iron.

7. In an uncoupling mechanism, the comvided with a downwardly opening recess through which the lower portion of said bail extends.

8. In an uncoupling mechanism, the combination with a car coupler and its lock, of

means for moving said lock to unlocked position, sa1d means involvlng a vertlcally rotatable member operatively connected to said lock and extending rearwardly therefrom, means engaging and adapted to actuate sa1d rotatable member, and a swinging Ushaped member passing beneath said rotatable member and supporting sa1d actuating means,

said actuating means having arockingbearv ver supportingly journaled on and adapted to actuate said swinging member, and swinging means for pivotally supporting said swinging member at apoint below the point of support of said uncoupling lever.

10. in an uncoupling mechanism, the com bination with a car, coupler and its lock, of

means for moving said lock to unlocked pos1t1on,,sa1d IIlGELIlS lIIVOl-Vlllg a vertlcally ro-.

tatable member operatively connected to said lock and extending rearwardly therefrom, a

swinging member adapted to actuate said rotatable member, an uncoupling lever engaging and adapted to actuate said swinging member. and a movable bail for pivotally supporting said swinging member, said .ro-

tatable member having slidable engagement with said swinging member, said swinging member beingprovided with a forward wall adapted to be engaged by'a portion of said lever to effect a lock actuating rotationof said swinging member when said lever is op erated, and said swinging member also having an upwardly opening recess permitting sa1d bail to enter and have pivotal engagement with said swinging member below said rotatable member. 7 v

11. In an uncoupling mechanism, the com-' .bination with a car coupler, its lock and carrier iron, of means for moving said lock to unlocked position, said means involving a' rotatable member operatively connectedto said lock and extending rearwardly therefrom, a swinging member slidably supporting and adapted to actuate said rotatable member, and a bail pivotally supporting said swinging member, said bail being provided with a plurality of hooks,and said carrier iron having an elongated slot adapted to receive said hooks. I

In testimony whereof I afiix my signatum.

' WILLIAM J. REGAN. 

